OLD trucks and tractors (but still working for a living) [Archive]

isuzurover

21st May 2014, 03:02 PM

austastar

21st May 2014, 03:26 PM

Hi,
came upon this lot recently, N.E. Tas.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/430.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/431.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/432.jpg

cheers

uninformed

21st May 2014, 03:34 PM

I know of a 1948 International crawler tractor that is still on the original property it was sold to. STill works and gets used regulary. It has a dozer blade attachment and unfortunately the big ornate cast cyclinder and bell crank arms were cut off and new units fitted. It also had its orginal radiator replaced last year.

p38arover

21st May 2014, 03:40 PM

As soon as I saw the first pic I recognised it as a Foden. Brian Hjelm or V8Ian are the men for trucks.

V8Ian

21st May 2014, 03:46 PM

Scarry, I don't consider them old. :(

vnx205

21st May 2014, 04:16 PM

Foden (I had never heard of them before)

Maybe you are too young. :p

According to the national Road Transport Hall of Fame:
There is no doubt that Foden trucks, not too long ago, were the undisputed kings of the road in Australia; certainly throughout the outback, in heavy applications and on long distance hauls all around the country.
Foden (http://www.roadtransporthall.com/yesterdays-workhorses/1264-foden.html)

There is more information about Foden here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Foden,_Sons_%26_Co.

A steam lorry like the one on the photo did a trip around some of Australia back in about the 1970s. I saw it somewhere near Grafton.

Bigbjorn

21st May 2014, 04:27 PM

Scarry, I don't consider them old. :(

Indeed, modern stuff, got pneumatic tyres for a start and the tractors have sheds on them. What engine in the Foden? Gardner or Foden two stroke? Dates from early 60's.

amtravic1

21st May 2014, 04:33 PM

My father used to drive a Foden semi from Melbourne to Sydney in the early 50's.
Unfortunately he is not around to ask about them.

Lionelgee

21st May 2014, 05:25 PM

Hello All,

Here is a link to a YouTube video that details the restoration of a Foden truck.

Foden S39 Restoration (part 1 ). Aug 2011 to Jan 2013. - YouTube

Enjoy :)

Kind Regards
Lionel

Hogarthde

21st May 2014, 08:14 PM

Regarding Austastar;s photo of Chamberlain, I reckon it belongs to a cobber who farms and restores tractors , Smithon Tas,. Notice the rear wheels are on ''backwards'', this lessens lug wear on hard surface.

How many remember Tail End Charlie of REDEX fame , circa 1954,? he was a Chamberlain ,albiet of earlier vintage to this one.

dave

disco man

21st May 2014, 08:25 PM

Very very cool collection of machinery:)

worane

21st May 2014, 08:54 PM

Foden engines were used in Royal Navy harbour launches too( HLD), stood for harbour launch diesel. Ran on and on and on.
Good motors.

350RRC

21st May 2014, 09:04 PM

I thought these pics may interest some on here. Note that some on here may not consider all of these old - but the farmers themselves do...

If anyone is able to ID any of these and provide info like approximate year and specifications that would be great.

Foden (I had never heard of them before)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/382.jpg

IH 4788 V8
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/383.jpg

MF V8
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/384.jpg

Volvo Truck and FE Loader
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/385.jpg

Chamberlain(?)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/386.jpg

Chamberlain 60DA
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/387.jpg

I will update the thread with more in the coming weeks...

A mate has one of those Volvo trucks as a tipper, it's awesome and he loves it !

The Volvo loader reminds me of one that a guy (Arthur Smith, lovely bloke missing lots of fingers) with a sawmill in Stawell had with forks on it, was an auto with no brakes.

I used to buy some very large sawn redgum posts from him which would be big single or smaller in packs. He'd pick them up with the forks and approach the big trailer, selecting reverse while going forward, come to a halt perfectly over the trailer and place the load perfectly before backing away.

I use a MF 165 everyday (70's) and have a Howard 810cc rotary hoe that still has so much compression that I have to kick it over. Starts first go after sitting for months

cheers, DL

350RRC

21st May 2014, 09:14 PM

Maybe you are too young. :p

According to the national Road Transport Hall of Fame:
There is no doubt that Foden trucks, not too long ago, were the undisputed kings of the road in Australia; certainly throughout the outback, in heavy applications and on long distance hauls all around the country.
Foden (http://www.roadtransporthall.com/yesterdays-workhorses/1264-foden.html)

There is more information about Foden here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Foden,_Sons_%26_Co.

A steam lorry like the one on the photo did a trip around some of Australia back in about the 1970s. I saw it somewhere near Grafton.

What about Reo trucks?............. my grandfather used to drive those all over the place, including the black soil NSW country.

He had the knowledge.

DL

Chops

21st May 2014, 09:42 PM

Good thread IR :D

JDNSW

22nd May 2014, 05:34 AM

What about Reo trucks?............. my grandfather used to drive those all over the place, including the black soil NSW country.

He had the knowledge.

DL

Our family 'car' was a Reo truck for a few years when I was small, and later when I was learning to drive became a paddock car. It was an early twenties model, with some contradictory features - non-detachable heads and open valve gear, but full pressure lubrication (except valve gear), aluminium pistons, but engine and gearbox mounted separately in a subframe separated by a propshaft.

John

SBD4

22nd May 2014, 06:32 AM

Hello All,

Here is a link to a YouTube video that details the restoration of a Foden truck.

Foden S39 Restoration (part 1 ). Aug 2011 to Jan 2013. - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydtiMrx0yIU)

Enjoy :)

Kind Regards
Lionel

Here are the additional videos:

Foden S39. Restoration (Part 2). Fuel pump troubles. Contains some garage language. - YouTube
Foden S39. 1973. Field trials. - YouTube

SBD4

22nd May 2014, 06:33 AM

I love this little AEC:

1957, AEC Mandator Mk 3, ballast tractor, loading dragline, and journey to Newark. May 2007. - YouTube

Lionelgee

22nd May 2014, 07:03 AM

What about Reo trucks?............. my grandfather used to drive those all over the place, including the black soil NSW country.

He had the knowledge.

DL

Hello DL & John,

What year REO truck did your grandfather (DL) & your family (John) have as their daily driver?

Kind Regards
Lionel

Tote

22nd May 2014, 07:07 AM

We were coming back from the farm last weekend and one of the locals was using an AW6 to push up piles of timber.
I used to drive a MF1155 like the one in the shed on the neighbour's farm when I was a kid in the late seventies. They had a reputation for having weak rear ends and most of the hydraulics on the one I drive didn't work so well. They had an interesting feature in that the ignition was controlled by a relay held on when the engine was running, no engine, no radio. The end of the world for a 13 year old working for pocket money...
The highlight was driving the then new JD 8430 which was a big tractor then but today with only 150HP doesn't seem so flash.

JD8430
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/360.jpg

AW6
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/361.jpg

Regards,
Tote

Lionelgee

22nd May 2014, 07:13 AM

Hello All,

Here is a very streamlined truck Labatt Streamliner.

Aerodynamic "Labatt Streamliner" Truck Restoration - YouTube

Here is a link to the REO version that used to ply the streets of Queensland Accessed 22nd May 2014 from Commercialmotor.com - It's a tanker Jim...but not as we know it says Biglorryblog. Now that's what I call STREAMLINING! (http://www.commercialmotor.com/big-lorry-blog/its-a-tanker-jimbut-not-as-we). The link in the article no longer works - the correct link to the John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland resource is http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do;jsessionid=CA78433E6B5E569D215712BA40B8 83AC'tabs=detailsTab&ct=display&fn=search&doc=slq_digitool104416&indx=1&recIds=slq_digitool104416&recIdxs=0&elementId=0&renderMode=poppedOut&displayMode=full&frbrVersion=&dscnt=0&onCampus=false&query=any%2Ccontains%2CREO+Plume+tanker&scp.scps=scope%3A%28QS%29%2Cscope%3A%28DT%29%2Csco pe%3A%28SLQ%29%2Cscope%3A%28IC%29%2Cscope%3A%28TGI %29%2Cscope%3A%28SAW%29%2Cprimo_central_multiple_f e%2CEbscoLocal&tab=default_tab&dstmp=1400710528745&dym=true&search_scope=SLQ_PCI_EBSCO&vl%281UIStartWith0%29=contains&group=Guest&vl%28freeText0%29=REO%20Plume%20tanker&vid=SLQ&vl%28D45500790UI0%29=any&y=12&x=15&institution=SLQ The link to the photograph itself is http://bishop.slq.qld.gov.au/view/action/singleViewer.do'dvs=1400710775025~497&locale=en_AU&metadata_object_ratio=7&show_metadata=true&VIEWER_URL=/view/action/singleViewer.do?&DELIVERY_RULE_ID=10&frameId=1&usePid1=true&usePid2=true

Wouldn't these trucks be nice to have in your shed :)

Kind Regards
Lionel

JDNSW

22nd May 2014, 08:28 AM

Hello DL & John,

What year REO truck did your grandfather (DL) & your family (John) have as their daily driver?

Kind Regards
Lionel

Not sure, but from information I have been able to find over the years, it must have dated from about 1923. It replaced a Ford T truck, and was in turn replaced by a 1931 Swift. It was the family car for only a few years, probably about 1948-1950. Calling it a daily driver is hardly accurate - with fuel rationing still in place, it was mainly weekends and holidays - my father rode his motorbike to work, using the fuel ration from the truck.

The Reo had a home made cab, wide enough for Dad, Mum and three kids, where the Ford the kids had to travel in the back. Picture is the best I can find, taken in 1949, when it was being used to pull a drag to make a tennis court.

John

Hogarthde

22nd May 2014, 08:29 AM

Well, some one has to start IzuzuRover,so I will attempt to answer.FODEN ,a real Engish classic, there was a dispute in later years in the company & Eric R Foden built lorries as E R F . This may be a S 24 with Gardner 6lx or 6lw or 6lb or Foden fd6 .up to 150 hp. Transmisson? 12 speed and like many Enland lorries , viz. AEC, BIG J, THORNYCROFT, LEYLAND, employed final reduction.,in fact real early ones had an external gear lever, driver stopped at bottom of hill ,dismounted, & engaged both hubs. Can't see if bogie, if is , no self respecting farmer would carry less than 18 tons.

Tractor ,nicknamed Snoopy ,articulated 4 wd mid 80's , v8 diesel , maybe Cummins or Neuss ,200 hp. Transmission, ? torque convertor ,20 speed ,and all mechanical would pull a 40 ft cultivator at 10 mph. why am i using imperial after all these years ? i do like metric.

Tractor , MF 1200 Perkins V8 ,120 hp mechanical box 12 speed 3pl

Tractor, Chamberlain , only true aussie built tractor of that era, by the Chamberlain brothers at Whelshpool W A Sadly ,with little tariff protection ,couldn't compete with imports, taken over by the massive John Deere corporation. Your 60DA would have been biggest tractor in Australia at the time, 2 stroke GM. 80 HP ,9 speed and a lovely hand clutch.

The wheat cockies with that unit would be kings indeed.

Hope this helps I R

dave

Tote

22nd May 2014, 08:41 AM

That inter isn't a snoopy,

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/359.jpg

Regards
Tote
Sent from my Nexus 7 using AULRO mobile app

Bigbjorn

22nd May 2014, 01:54 PM

Many Fodens were delivered with Foden's own manual transmission which was a real trick to use. Many drivers simply were unable to cope with the difference. I think most were replaced with Eaton-Fuller Road Rangers, at least in Australia.

S3ute

22nd May 2014, 02:30 PM

Foden (I had never heard of them before).

Hello from Brisbane.

I guess a few of us grey hairs or no hairs grew up with Fodens and ERFs:

77603

Cheers,

isuzurover

22nd May 2014, 04:14 PM

...What engine in the Foden? Gardner or Foden two stroke? Dates from early 60's.

I assume the 2st (diesel?) would need a blower, if so it was the Gardner then.

Here is a 2nd pic I have. The doors on the cab were mostly glass (well done though).
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/355.jpg

There was an Army Inter still in use as a fuel carrier (didn't get a pic unfortunately). Also plenty of ACCO's...

The volvo (what model is it?) was leaking PAS fluid into the sump. Owner was topping up the PAS with engine oil until he decided to fix it or buy a new truck...

V8Ian

22nd May 2014, 04:43 PM

The Volvo is an N series, 7,10 or 12; probably a 10. The numbers relate to the engine size in litres.

Hogarthde

22nd May 2014, 04:43 PM

VOLVO ,...FL7?

Hogarthde

22nd May 2014, 04:45 PM

Beaten again, cheers Ian!

V8Ian

22nd May 2014, 04:49 PM

VOLVO ,...FL7?
Dave, F (forward) L (low cab) is too modern. The equivalent cab over of the day would have been F86, commonly called a bubble.

Bigbjorn

22nd May 2014, 05:40 PM

Dave, F (forward) L (low cab) is too modern. The equivalent cab over of the day would have been F86, commonly called a bubble.

N for normal control. F for forward control. I don't know how the F88 became the G88. Maybe some mysterious marketing dept. reasoning.

The Redex Trial Chamberlain tractor would do 70 mph and was driven by well known Australian motor racing character John Cummins. Cummo did his time at Chamberlain as a tool and die maker and moved onwards into sales and marketing. He was the NSW Truck Sales Manager at GM-H Pagewood in the late 60's- early 70's and briefly my boss. His company car at one time was a HT ute tricked up with GTS gear and lime green with black GTS stripes.

UncleHo

22nd May 2014, 06:00 PM

V8Ian

22nd May 2014, 06:01 PM

A couple of early bubbles.

Hogarthde

22nd May 2014, 08:03 PM

AH, motor racing characters,.......who the bloke who upset everyone with gelignite ?
he would be right at home here

dave

V8Ian

22nd May 2014, 08:14 PM

AH, motor racing characters,.......who the bloke who upset everyone with gelignite ?
he would be right at home here

dave
(Gelignite) Jack Murray and his Customline.

Rurover

22nd May 2014, 09:07 PM

My father used to drive a Foden semi from Melbourne to Sydney in the early 50's.
Unfortunately he is not around to ask about them.

The other truck that dominated the long haul semi trailer scene at around that time was the Commer "knocker". Used a unique opposed piston two stroke diesel that you could hear from miles away. I remember them grinding their way up the old road to Murray Bridge through the Adelaide Hills, with dozens of cars lined up behind them travelling at the same snails pace!

Alan

PS I know a bloke who's just finished restoring a beautiful öld" Foden. I'll see if I can get a photo or two in the next few days.

Bigbjorn

23rd May 2014, 05:39 AM

G'day Brian :)

I can remember that ute vaguely,from when us pleebs used to go to the Associated Motor Club in Sydney for good dining and drinking ;) and can remember seeing it parked close by.

Also have a military vehicle friend up Caboolture way that has a Cab over Volvo which he transports his Stuart Tank on.

cheers

Ho, were you one of the lounge lizards that hung around the Associated Criminal Club? I don't think it had much to do with motoring. Open 24 hours. Remember the Piano Bar? Cummo and I and assorted others used to move there after the Horsepower closed at 10 pm.

123rover50

23rd May 2014, 06:38 AM

Here is an old shot of the Ford 4000 County I rescued from the bush in Bougainville.
This shot is on the wharf at Kieta awaiting loading on the ship bound for Auckland.
Everything was loaded except my wifes Fiat. We left it behind:(
This was 1979 and I later sold the tractor to a bloke near Paihia, Bay of Islands NZ.
It may still be working:angel:

Keith

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/06/803.jpg (http://s939.photobucket.com/user/123rover50/media/Papua%20New%20Guinea%201969/Bougainville/Kietabackyard05001.jpg.html)

Hogarthde

23rd May 2014, 10:17 AM

Bigbjorn

23rd May 2014, 10:56 AM

Yes Rurover, that wonderful clatter of those Commers . The little [in respect to competitors] Tilling Stevens 3, of about 100 hp ,performed superbly, tho i can visualise the driver rolling the makings coming up to the Eagle on the Hill.

One thing i miss nowadays is evocative engine sounds, ie knocker ,jimmy,v8,6.354 and as Brian mentioned in another thread, the big ol Allis Hd 41 ...although single cyl still sound single.

Enough of this must wash the D3 ready for daughter's wedding tomorrow.

dave

My family owned eight knockers all told. Seven were eight ton body trucks and one pulled a single axle trailer. I owned one of the later ones and pulled a 32' closed bogie trailer. Slow as, except downhill in Mexican overdrive. The TS3 stood for two stroke three cylinder. They were around 105 hp. The last ones with the six speed o/d box were the best. Commer made good trucks but the knockers were oversold in this country as a prime mover. Damn good eight tonners though. The six cylinder petrol engine used in trucks and the Humber Super Snipe was a great engine.

Rurover

23rd May 2014, 02:12 PM

As promised, a few photos of some beautifully restored trucks (including a 1950 Foden).
These are all owned by truck enthusiast, Murray Langford. His restorations are to "better than new" condition.

Note the real "gem" in his collection, and his most recent restoration, the early 1920's GMC, complete with original trailer.

I also love his massive 1969 Kenworth (yes GM powered) which at the time was the fastest truck on the Australian highways (probably still IS in fact, since modern trucks are supposed to be speed limited!)

Alan

SBD4

20th March 2015, 03:55 PM

WINCHING WITH A MATADOR - YouTube

Stuck

20th March 2015, 08:18 PM

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/general-chat/77622d1400749232t-old-trucks-tractors-but-still-working-living-nolans-f86-open-spread-tandem-trailer.jpg
Those spread axle trailers are a bit of nostalgia. Dad had one of the very last F86's, it came with the 230hp donk that the first of the F7's had as opposed to the standard 210hp mill and he thought the world of that truck.

Brian Hjelm wrote,
"I don't know how the F88 became the G88. Maybe some mysterious marketing dept. reasoning."

The F and the G series were pretty much the same truck but the steer axle was moved forward on the G series to appease weight and axle spacing rules (I worked for a bloke who was a Volvo tragic and this is what he told me but that was 30 years ago) and I can't remember which country the change was made for. F88/89 had the step to get into the cabin in front of the steer axle and the G88/89 had the step behind the axle and there's an old F88 still earning it's keep pulling a flat top tri around Newcastle.

isuzurover

25th March 2015, 08:31 PM

...His restorations are to "better than new" condition.

Great pics, but i cannot really appreciate 'better than new' restorations, and none of these seem to be still working...

V8Ian

25th March 2015, 09:43 PM

https://youtu.be/Vd_Zw1N7bok

Tote

30th March 2015, 05:12 PM

I passed these guys this afternoon on the way home

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/03/78.jpg

Looked mighty impressive I must say seeing about 10 or so clippers in convoy.

Some more info here
HCVC Vintage Truck Forum - 60th Anniversary Re-enactment Run MELBOURNE TO SYD (http://www.hcvc.com.au/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1424495009)

They are heading to Sydney tomorrow should anyone be able to catch them

TUESDAY 31 MARCH 2015

0930 ? Depart Canberra
1030 ? Arr Goulburn
1100 ? Depart Goulburn
1200 ? Arr Berrima
1300 ? Depart Berrima
1320 approx ? Mittagong
1340 approx ? Bargo
1500 approx ? Picton
1530 approx ? Narellan

Regards,
Tote

Scouse

30th March 2015, 05:33 PM

They are heading to Sydney tomorrow should anyone be able to catch them

TUESDAY 31 MARCH 2015

0930 ? Depart Canberra
1030 ? Arr Goulburn
1100 ? Depart Goulburn
1200 ? Arr Berrima
1300 ? Depart Berrima
1320 approx ? Mittagong
1340 approx ? Bargo
1500 approx ? Picton
1530 approx ? Narellan

Regards,
ToteThanks, I have tomorrow off so I might catch them after a nice lunch at the Bargo Pie Shop.

**Maybe they're stopping there for lunch too as they've allocated 1hr 20min to travel from Bargo to Picton (about 15km).